Read Online The Queen of Swords by Michael Moorcock - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Moorcock
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coasts?”
“From the west,” said Corum.
“The
west
? Is trouble beginning there, also?”
“Excuse me, King Onald,” Rhalina said, removing her helmet and shaking out her long hair, “but we were not aware that there was any strife in the east.”
“Raiders,” he said. “Barbarian pirates. Not long since they took the port of Dowish-an-Wod and razed it, slaying all. Several fleets, as far as we can gather, striking at different points along the coast. In most parts the citizens were unprepared and fell before they could begin to fight, but in one or two small towns the garrisons were able to resist the raiders and, in one case, took prisoners. One of those prisoners has recently been brought here. He is mad.”
“Mad?” Jhary said.
“Aye—he believes himself to be some kind of crusader, destined to destroy the whole land of Lywm-an-Esh. He speaks of supernatural help, of an enormous army which marches against us…”
“He is not mad,” Corum told him quietly. “At least, not in that respect. That is why we are here—to warn you of a huge invasion. The barbarians of Bro-an-Mabden—doubtless your coastal attackers—and the barbarians of the land you know as Bro-an-Vadhagh have united, called on the aid of Chaos and those creatures which serve Chaos, and are pledged to destroy all who side, knowingly or unknowingly, with the Lords of Law. For Lord Arioch of Chaos has been but lately banished from this particular domain of Five Planes and can only return if all who support Law are vanquished. His sister Queen Xiombarg cannot give aid directly, but she encourages all her servitors to throw their weight behind the barbarians.”
King Onald stroked his lips with a thin finger. “It is graver than I had imagined. I was hard put to think of effective ways of stopping the coastal attacks, but now I can think of nothing which will enable us to resist such a force.”
“Your people must be warned of their peril,” said Rhalina urgently.
“Of course,” replied the king. “We will reopen the arsenals and arm every man that we can. But even then…”
“You have forgotten how to fight?” suggested Jhary.
The king nodded. “You have read my thoughts, sir.”
“If only Lord Arkyn had consolidated his power over this domain!” Corum said. “He could aid us. But now there is too little time. Lyr’s army marches from the east and his allies sail from the north…”
“And doubtless this city is their ultimate destination,” murmured Onald. “We cannot possibly withstand the might which you say they command.”
“And we do not know what supernatural allies they have,” Rhalina reminded him. “We could not remain any longer at Moidel to discover that.” She explained how they had learned of Lyr’s ambitions and Jhary smiled.
“I regret,” he said, “that my little cat cannot fly over great stretches of water. The idea distresses him too much.”
“Perhaps the priests of Law can help us…” Onald said thoughtfully.
“Perhaps,” agreed Corum, “but I fear they have little power at this moment.”
“And there are no allies we can call upon,” Onald sighed. “Well, we must prepare to die.”
The three fell silent.
* * *
A little later a servant entered and whispered something to the king. He looked surprised and turned to his guests.
“We are all four summoned to the Temple of Law,” he said. “Perhaps the powers of the priests are greater than we know, for they seem aware of your presence in the city.” To the servant he said, “Have a carriage prepared to take us there please.”
While they waited for the carriage, they bathed quickly and cleaned their clothes as best they could and then the little party left the palace and entered the simple, open carriage which bore them through the streets until it came to a low, pleasant building on the western side of the city. A man stood at the entrance. He looked agitated. He was dressed in a long white robe on which was
“From the west,” said Corum.
“The
west
? Is trouble beginning there, also?”
“Excuse me, King Onald,” Rhalina said, removing her helmet and shaking out her long hair, “but we were not aware that there was any strife in the east.”
“Raiders,” he said. “Barbarian pirates. Not long since they took the port of Dowish-an-Wod and razed it, slaying all. Several fleets, as far as we can gather, striking at different points along the coast. In most parts the citizens were unprepared and fell before they could begin to fight, but in one or two small towns the garrisons were able to resist the raiders and, in one case, took prisoners. One of those prisoners has recently been brought here. He is mad.”
“Mad?” Jhary said.
“Aye—he believes himself to be some kind of crusader, destined to destroy the whole land of Lywm-an-Esh. He speaks of supernatural help, of an enormous army which marches against us…”
“He is not mad,” Corum told him quietly. “At least, not in that respect. That is why we are here—to warn you of a huge invasion. The barbarians of Bro-an-Mabden—doubtless your coastal attackers—and the barbarians of the land you know as Bro-an-Vadhagh have united, called on the aid of Chaos and those creatures which serve Chaos, and are pledged to destroy all who side, knowingly or unknowingly, with the Lords of Law. For Lord Arioch of Chaos has been but lately banished from this particular domain of Five Planes and can only return if all who support Law are vanquished. His sister Queen Xiombarg cannot give aid directly, but she encourages all her servitors to throw their weight behind the barbarians.”
King Onald stroked his lips with a thin finger. “It is graver than I had imagined. I was hard put to think of effective ways of stopping the coastal attacks, but now I can think of nothing which will enable us to resist such a force.”
“Your people must be warned of their peril,” said Rhalina urgently.
“Of course,” replied the king. “We will reopen the arsenals and arm every man that we can. But even then…”
“You have forgotten how to fight?” suggested Jhary.
The king nodded. “You have read my thoughts, sir.”
“If only Lord Arkyn had consolidated his power over this domain!” Corum said. “He could aid us. But now there is too little time. Lyr’s army marches from the east and his allies sail from the north…”
“And doubtless this city is their ultimate destination,” murmured Onald. “We cannot possibly withstand the might which you say they command.”
“And we do not know what supernatural allies they have,” Rhalina reminded him. “We could not remain any longer at Moidel to discover that.” She explained how they had learned of Lyr’s ambitions and Jhary smiled.
“I regret,” he said, “that my little cat cannot fly over great stretches of water. The idea distresses him too much.”
“Perhaps the priests of Law can help us…” Onald said thoughtfully.
“Perhaps,” agreed Corum, “but I fear they have little power at this moment.”
“And there are no allies we can call upon,” Onald sighed. “Well, we must prepare to die.”
The three fell silent.
* * *
A little later a servant entered and whispered something to the king. He looked surprised and turned to his guests.
“We are all four summoned to the Temple of Law,” he said. “Perhaps the powers of the priests are greater than we know, for they seem aware of your presence in the city.” To the servant he said, “Have a carriage prepared to take us there please.”
While they waited for the carriage, they bathed quickly and cleaned their clothes as best they could and then the little party left the palace and entered the simple, open carriage which bore them through the streets until it came to a low, pleasant building on the western side of the city. A man stood at the entrance. He looked agitated. He was dressed in a long white robe on which was
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